Facing Ali? Was there a big song and dance about it because Ali took Holmes under his wing? Or was it a case of passing the torch? What did both Ali and Larry have to say about the subject? What did the family of Ali say about it, and the trainers of both men say about it? What was the Boxing worlds take on it?
Most knew Ali was finished but Ali had everyone believing he could get into condition and find the magic. Most knew he was pathetic against Leon Spinks and was toast. Can't blame Holmes it was a big money fight and a name on his record. Afterwards everyone knew they were rooked
The boxing world hoped, if only a little, that Ali had recalled abit of his abilities along with the weight he dropped for their bout. Ali said after the bout that he found himself lethargic and unable to perspire due to the weight loss med's he was on but discontinued them too late to recover. Larry said he did what he had to do as it was a fight. Afterwards it was just obvious the bout should never have taken place.
Holmes came along at the right time, a over the hill Norton gave him all he could handle,Larry is very good and very lucky
I remember watching Holmes Ali live. I was a big Ali fan ike every 70's kid but I got the feeling Holmes went easy on him. It was pitiful to watch and even at age 12 I knew the end had come.
to be fair, holmes would have taken alis title from 76 onwards, despite only emerging in 78. ali really wasnt lineal in anything but name from 77 on.
holmes had a good chin,heart and right hand with an awesome jab.had trouble with smothering fighters like berbick,barely beat a limited(but powerful) shavers and a blown up spinks and was crushed by tyson.i think frazier would have killed him.
